Northland 2023
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@SouthernMann Northland resigned most of last year's squad. Very few spots available I'd imagine
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@muddyriver the great thing in the last few years has been players being developed in Northland, players coming back, and even the imports playing our club rugby and sticking. Hated seeing those late signings from other regions - generally they weren’t great and did nothing for building the team.
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@muddyriver yeah I think we are still a lock short (pun intended, cos I havent seen many tall ones about) and wing, also heard Esile Fono could be done for the season with an injury so another prop likely to be added.
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Rugby Chat: New horizons for John Leslie
Paul Dwyer broke the news of Southern coach John Leslie being chased for the Northland Taniwha role and he speaks to JL as it has now transpired. ...
a little chat about the move north for those interested, as i said in the NPC thread, he's a top bloke
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@Tim thats a bit of an, er, ok type signing for me, the cynic in me says maybe a bit of nepotism given Dewes picked him in 2021 I think, and he had limited minutes (with 1 good performance) and Dewes relationship with Waipu.
Have heard he is playing awesome, but he is playing in a team getting pumped by 50+ every week, so expect his shoulders been getting alot of use in defence...much easier to stand out?
He has all the physical attributes though, so who knows
Are several other 7's about I'd be looking at before him, but I aint a selector, so hope he steps up and proves me wrong (cos we know thats what its about haha)
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Wednesday 31st, 7pm at Wellsford, expect the grounds to be heavy underfoot.
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Squad has been named for this game. Good to see Sean Sweetman back
Northland Squad (To be finalized):
Trinity McQueen (Western Sharks)
Lucas Payne (Western Sharks)
Matt Matich (Western Sharks)
Jordan Olsen (Mid Northern)
Remsy Lemisio (Mid Northern)
Jade Stewart (Mid Northern)
*Allan Craig (Mid Northern)
Kiwi Duncan (Mid Northern)
*Rob Rush (Mid Northern)
JT Pont-Bellamy (Mid Northern)
Kobie Scutt (Mid Northern)
Zac Shanks (Mid Northern)
Valance Yates (Mid Northern)
Sean Sweetman (Wellsford)
Rene Ranger (Wellsford)
Sage Walters-Hansen (Wellsford)
Melino Fotu (Hora Hora)
Tahi Subritzky (Hora Hora)
Trent Hape (Hora Hora)
Dan Hawkins (Hora Hora)
Tama Anderson (Hora Hora)
Bruce Kauika-Petersen (Hora Hora)
Liam Chapam (Hora Hora)
Saimoni Uluikauvadra (Waipu)
Latham Aull (Waipu)
Cody Aull (Waipu)
Ross Gladdish (Waipu)
Matt Letoga (Hikurangi)
Blake Hohaia (Kamo)
Pisi Leilua (Kamo)
Kobe Walters (Kamo)
Puru Aboagye (Kamo)
Ilai Arona (Moerewa/United Kawakawa)
Xavier Kaipo (Old Boys Marist)
Wessel Theron (Old Boys Marist)
Nathan Salmon (Old Boys Marist)
O’Neal Rongo (Kerikeri)
Sam Parkes (Kerikeri)
Hayden Jurlina (Eastern) -
good mix of young and old.
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This post is deleted!
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@Steven-Harris did you hear who went down last night? Be a great opportunity for some, particularly the likes of Sweetman and some of the real young guys.
Obviously Rush wouldn't have played, I also saw young Wessel Theron at the gym last night.
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A quick and easy improvement for Northland rugby would be to give the social media passwords to one of the players and ask them to post some basic info. A couple of photos, maybe even a short video
The Auckland twitter feed was obviously focused on their own side. The only Northland player mentioned was Ranger
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@Duluth doesnt help that @Steven-Harris wasnt there, NRU seem to use his reports for these types of game.
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Got some feedback from the midweek hit out apologies if its got a Northland slant you can blame my contact that was at the game
Firstly Northland had several players unavailable which included Rob Rush ,Matt Matich,Saimoni Uluinakauvadra , Sean Sweetman and Allen Craig which effectively meant they had no locksBoth teams started the game with their strongest XV’s Northland coming out on top after after the first of 3 halves before both teams made a whole host of changes for the 2nd and 3rd halves which eventually saw the score blow out
5 of Aucklands tries coming from lineout drive and maul from close rangeDespite fielding a very short pack , Northland Kobie Walters and Hikurangi no 8 Matt Letoga stepping into the middle row did an admireble job.
The set piece scrum was solid which created a good platform to attack
Rene Ranger turned the clock back with an outstanding performance causing the Auckland defence all sorts of problems breaking tackles and finding holes which benefited young wingers Kiwi Duncan and Nathan Salmon ,both of these kids will play Super Rugby sometime in the future , Salmon who moved into centre did his opposite with pace on the outside and then gased Jock McKenzie who was covering at fullback who looked like he was standing in quick sand as my contact described to me
I suspect one of these 2 may play NPC at some stage in 2023
Kobie Scutt also impressed when he came on , clearing up some dangerous situations at the back as did Jade Stewart who slotted into first five
Moerewa UK halfback IIai Arona also impressed as the starting 9 in the first half combo with Dan Hawkins at 10
There were some soid performances in the pack Trinity McQueen,JT Pont Bellamy and Tahi Subritsky more than held their own at scrum time
The one player that stood out big time in the forward effort was Eastern loose forward Hayden Jurluna , Jurlina who has been around Northland development squads in the last 2-3 years has put on some good weight and was outstanding running at number 8 and could possibly be a loose forward cover option 8 or 6
especially given that there are still a few concerns over Saimoni Ulunakauvadra and injury
All in all a good hit for what was mix of some oustanding youngsters and a few veterans who are showing age is not a barrier -
Just caught a strong lead that former Auckland and Waikato fullback Jordon Trainor will be playing for the Taniwha in 2023 .
Makes sence given the Taniwha will need a back up to Josh Moorby
Trainor who has an excellent kicking game can also play wing ..
Trusting my source on this one -
@Steven-Harris Guess Auckland will have Sullivan, McKenzie, and a young player as options.
IIRC, Joel Cobb got injured in the NPC last year. Any idea when he is due back?
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@Steven-Harris makes sense more so now we will likely be without Murray in the early rounds at least.
Trainor seemed a guy with a high ceiling, in the mould of Stevenson, but never really kicked on, hoping he does for us.
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Rob Rush relishing the opportunity at the Blues
The son of Eric Rush sees first-hand the speed and skills required in Super Rugby.
